HERA True Wear Foundation - review

Hera True Wear Foundation is the latest liquid foundation offering from Hera, Korean high end brand. I have not seen a lot of people talk about this which is a shame as this is a rather amazing foundation.  This foundation comes in 30 ml and claims to be long wearing and suitable for all skin types. It comes in 5 shades and I have the lightest one in No.13 Ivory.

Hera's claims:

Long-lasting elaborate look of the skin with an airy, weightless feel True Fit Complex: Texture that’s light and comfortable to wear
Revitalizing Mechanism: Moisturizing serum foundation providing skincare benefit
Lasting Wear Technology: For a long-lasting bright complexion
Beauty Effect Pigment: For naturally beautiful skin with improved texture and complexion

True Fit Complex delicately and seamlessly blends into the skin leaving for comfort and a light, soft finish.

Ingredients with strong vitality extracted from narcissus and birch synergically deliver moisture deeply into the skin for a healthy and vibrant skin complexion.

Coating Pigment fights the skin’s dullness while Stretch Polymer helps to hold an even veil of foundation to keep the skin looking flawless and bright all day long.

Beauty Effect Pigment and Strobing Powder reflect the light to give a bright luminous finish.

Ingredients:

Pure Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Silica, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Diphenyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Diphenyl Dimethicone/Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentylene Glycol, Mica, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Alumina, Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Adenosine, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Tin Oxide, Tocopherol, Narcissus Jonquilla Extract, Glycoproteins, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Limonene, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), CI 77492, CI 77491, CI 77499]

As true high end offering it comes in an elegant black box, and foundation itself is in a heavy glass bottle. I have never seen a pump like the one on this foundation, which completely closes  so no air can enter the product. Black packaging is very elegant but prone to showing fingertips.

It is a thick foundation when you pump it out but melts on the skin. It applies easily and seamlessly with a damp beauty blender and layers without any issues. It has good medium coverage and feels like nothing on the skin. Hera claims it is skin like, weightless, comfortable, perfecting, long lasting and gives a flawless finish. And their claims are pretty much on the money. This foundation looks beautiful on the skin. It perfects skin texture, reduces the looks of pores, does not emphasize any lines, it is extremely comfortable to wear. It lasts the entire day with minimal wear around the chin area due to eating and wiping your mouth. There is no emphasizing of dry patches or uneven skin texture, no gathering around the nose. It basically gives you photo shopped look while still looking just like skin. It did not oxidize on me.

On the left no foundation on the right with applied light layer of foundation. 

I don't know if it is clear from the photo but when applied it looks like your skin is bathed in soft, flattering light.

All in all awesome stuff. I particularly like how it minimizes the look of pores. It is by far the best foundation I purchased in 2017. If there is anything bad to say about it, it is the limited shade range and no colors for darker skin tones.

Brand review - COLOURPOP!

ColourPop is an USA indie brand situated in California that provides quality makeup for affordable prices. In their own words:

" Made with love in California, it's our mission to redefine luxury beauty by creating amazing products at prices that don't break the bank. Dedicated to newness at lightning speed, we imagine, develop, test, and manufacture all under one roof. We pride ourselves on being cruelty-free, wallet-friendly, and keeping our customers at the center of our world."

They started as an on line store but in the past year or so they have reached the mainstream level of popularity and recently their products are available for purchase in Sephora. Their popularity is well deserved as they truly deliver in what they promise, quality make up for affordable prices. 

I have a small collection of ColorPop products (probably I would have a lot more if they were more easily available  here in Europe) and with bank holiday sales going on on their site right now maybe this helps you in deciding if they are worth a try. ColorPop website offers free domestic shipping for purchase over $30 and free global shipping for purchase over $50 (EU folks be aware you will almost certainly have to pay custom fees and VAT on top of your purchase). 

So let us start this brand overview with a product and formula that lead to ColourPop success, the Super Shock formula.

The Super Shock formula is a weird hybrid between powder and cream product. It feels creamy and bouncy when touched but sets into powder on face. Products that come in Super Shock formula are face products, blushes and highlighters and their most famous and popular product Super Shock Shadows that they promote as pigmented and crease-proof, and they are that as well as really long lasting. I personally find that fingers are the best for applying these products and if not fingers than a flat dense synthetic brush. 
I have a Mile High Super Shock Shadow Collection that consists of colors Truth, Nillionare, So Quiche, Lala, Cricket and Mittens. Also there is a blush Birthday Suit  in Super Shock Cheek Satin formula  and pearlized highlight in Wisp. Blush gives this nice blush from within look and highlight is no joke, it is really intense (bling, bling). 

From left to right: Super Shock metallic shadows in Cricket, So Quiche and Nillionaire, matte shadow in Mittens, satin shadow in Truth and ultra metallic shadow in LaLa, cheek highlight in Wisp and blush in Birthday Suit.

Besides Super Shock formula they also have pressed shadows both individual and in palettes as well as face products in pressed powder form such as blushes, highlighters and bronzers.

Pressed powder highlighter pan in Here Kitty Kitty and pressed powder shadows in Cloud Nine, Locked and Loaded, High Strung, Come and Get it, Made to Last, Wake up Call and Wait for It.

Shadows are pigmented and soft, they have a bit of fall out but they blend well and smoothly and do not get muddied. Metallic/shimmery shadows are best when applied with finger or flat synthetic brush. Highlight is finely milled and goes on the face nicely but it has micro glitter in it so be aware if you have aversion to glitter but note it does not make you look like a disco ball. I was truly impressed with their pressed shadows and I like them as much as Makeup Geek ones or even my high-end shadows like MAC or Tarte. 

From left to right: pressed powder shadow in High Strung, Come and Get It, Wait for It, Cloud Nine, Made to Last, Wake up Call and Locked and Loaded, the last is pressed highlighter in in Here Kitty Kitty

 Another thing ColourPop does especially well are lip products.

 I am a particular fan of their lip products, especially Lippie Stix Matt formula. They also have liquid lipsticks on offer in both satin, matte and glossy formula but as I am not  the biggest fan of liquid lipsticks I have none of those. They often have their lip products on offer in various bundles which make an even more affordable way to try them. 

From left to right: Free mini I received in color ASAP, matte lippie stix in Tootsi, matte x lippie stix in Pillow Talk, creme lippie stix in Aquarius, matte lippie stix in Contempo, matte lippie stix in Taurus, matte lippie stix in Lumiere ( a favorite), matte lippie stix in Brink.

From left to right a mini lippie stix/lip pencil combo: LBB/LBB, Chateau/Dukes, Trust me/Bossy, Cami/Bound (a favorite), Cookie/Skimpy.

They also have concealers on offer. They are very pigmented but dry down  very fast and very matte so I personally find them to drying on my normal skin. They also oxidize somewhat. They come in 4 g bottle which is less than usual but they are extremely affordable (usually $6 but currently on sale for $4.80). Personally this is not a product I would recommend unless you have oily skin.

No filter concealer in light neutral

And last but in no way least are their brushes. Which I really enjoy. They have both face and eye brushes on offer, however I only purchased eye-brushes and they have become some of my most used eye-brushes. 

From left to right: small shader brush, pencil brush, tapered blending brush (a favorite) and medium shader brush

 Small and medium shader brush are ideal for packing shadow on the lid, tapered blending brush is perfect for crease work and blending, it is so nicely tapered that it is easy to control even if you wish to do a more precise application of crease color and pencil brush is also shaped in a way that blends the lower lid shadow application quite nicely. Eye brushes are usually priced around $6 which is really affordable for the quality. 

They also have a lot of shadow palettes on offer priced around $16 and knowing the quality of their pressed shadows I am looking forward to giving them a try.

All in all, ColourPop is a brand whose products I enjoy and I like the idea behind the brand that quality makeup need not be a luxury. 

Dior does lip tint - Dior Addict Lip Tattoo Review

Whenever I see a western brand release products inspired by Asian beauty I cannot help but be curious and wonder "Did they get it right?!"

Dior has recently launched a line of lip tints called Dior Addict Lip Tattoo as part of their Backstage Pros Range. Dior claims "The shades boost the natural color of the lips with a subtle luminosity. Long wear tint with extreme weightless feel: Dior color technology blends stains and pigments to create no-transfer shades with a weightless, comfortable, bare-skin sensation. "

Photo credit: https://www.dior.com

Lip Tattoo comes in 5 shades (at least in Europe) : Natural Pink, Natural Cherry Tint, Natural Coral Tint, Natural Berry Tint and Natural Rosewood Tint.

I decided to buy the most unusual color of the bunch: Natural Rosewood Tint. 

Dior Addict Lip Tattoo in 491 Natural Rosewood

Tint comes in matte plastic container with Dior embossed on one side and name of the product in silver letters on the other side. Container itself is in the color of the product, which makes it easier to pick the one you want if you have more than one. Color name is stated on the sticker on the bottom of the product as well. Packaging is gorgeous as expected of Dior. 
Applicator is a foam applicator that follows the lip contours easily and does not take too much product. 

Color itself is gorgeous. A warm mauvey/rosy brown. It is very flattering color that can be applied in one layer for natural look or built up. 

Lip Tattoo in Natural Rosewood freshly swatched

Stain left behind by Lip Tattoo in Natural Rosewood

This feel like nothing on lips. It sets really fast and it is extremely comfortable to wear, not drying what so ever. Once it sets it is 100% kiss and transfer proof. It will survive talking and drinking but not eating. Eating will erase it completely. It can be removed easily by micelar water or oily make up removers. To me it seems different from other tints as it does not sink into and color your lips but it forms a super light, thin film of color that seamlessly clings to your lips. I am really impressed with the formula as it is actually something new for me. Formula feels and looks like a super light watery gel that smells vaguely of mint candy.
Now application can be a bit tricky as this sets really fast. Unlike Asian tints it is not suitable for ombre look as it just not malleable enough to achieve it easily. Also for some reason the color comes off more intense on my bottom lip than my upper lip. I solved this by adding additional layer to my upper lip once it dried down. This is easy to do as it is very buildable. On my pale skin I can build this color until I achieve this vampy but still natural look. 

What I liked: color, longevity, feels like nothing on lips, 100% transfer proof, easy to remove using makeup removers, buildable, very comfortable and not drying, product lives up to company claims

What I didn't like: expensive, takes a few tries to get the application right, not suited for ombre look

To be honest I did not want to like this as much as I do as it is very expensive but I am impressed and this is a great product. Well done Dior. They took and Asian beauty staple and gave it their own very successful twist.

Summer Corals

In summer I tend to gravitate towards warm orangey corals and peachy colors for my lips and cheeks. There is just something uplifting and cheerful about them that screams summer and hot weather to me. Summer comes and I go crazy for coral.

These are some of my favorite coraly makeup items in summer.


Blush

Cargo Los Cabos, Tarte Tipsy, Benefit Galifornia, Clinique Peach Pop, Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine

Let's start with the powder blushes. Something all of these have in common is that they are pigmented and long lasting and able to liven up your face.

From top to bottom: Laura Mercier Lush Nectarine, Clinique Peach Pop,
Benefit Galifornia, Tarte Tipsy and Cargo Los Cabos

Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Lush Nectarine  - described as soft peachy coral it has slight glow to it. It looks beautiful on skin.  Formula is awesome, it goes on smoothly, it is easy to blend and long lasting. 

Clinique Peach Pop- I love cheek pop formula. It can go from sheer to intense as it is very buildable. Silky smooth with a beautiful sheen. Peach pop is a gorgeous warm coral with satin finish. 

Benefit Galifornia - described as golden pink blush, but leans way more coral on my skin. It is very pigmented and smells divine (not important) of vanilla and grapefruit. It has a luminous finish with very fine golden pearl that does not emphasize skin imperfections. 

Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in Tipsy - it is a long lasting pigmented matte blush. I would describe it bright coral. On me it lasts long and makes me look alive. 

Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Los Cabos - as its name suggests, is a water resistant blush that is perfect for those humid sweaty days. Color is described as soft tangerine with gold sheen.

I love my cream blushes as well. My favorite summer picks are:

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Rude, Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Watermelon/Moonstone, Skinfood Rose Essence Soft Cream Blusher in 4 Orange Rose

These are creamy and soft looking and pretty long lasting for a cream blush (6 -7 hours).

From top to bottom: Skinfood Rose Essence Soft Cream Blusher in 4 Orange Rose,
Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Watermelon/Moonstone,
Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Rude

Skinfood Rose Essence Soft Cream Blusher in 4 Orange Rose - super soft and creamy blush that melts under your fingers. It is a fairly pigmented soft coral. I find it easiest to apply and blend with fingers. Finish is subtly glowy due to it being a cream blush. 

Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Watermelon/Moonstone - is described as coral red infused with pale gold, on my skin it comes out as subtle pink coral with gold sheen. Formula is really interesting as it feels cool to the touch and whipped. It goes on as cream but turns to more powdery finish. Very buildable with gorgeous shine (no need for a highlighter) that does not emphasize imperfections. Probably my favorite summertime blush. I love it.  

Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Rude - now this sucker is pigmented so it needs a light hand. But it is gorgeous. it is described as warm peach pink. On my skin it comes out as soft orange, no pink in it. It is very dewy, giving you that dewy/glowy look that makes you look healthy without looking greasy. 


Lip products

Missha Poptastic Jelly Tinit in Hot Coral, Holika Holika Enamel Volip Tint in Flash Coral,
YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 12 Coral Incandescent, MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Sunny Seoul,
Mammonde Oil Shine Stick in 10 Coral Star, Clarins Rouge Eclat in 8 Coral Pink,
Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in 04 Heftiest Hibiscus, Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense in 7 Let's kiss

In summer I like a glossy, shiny finish to lips. No matte products here. 

From top to Bottom: Missha Poptastic Jelly Tinit in Hot Coral, Holika Holika Enamel
Volip Tint in Flash Coral, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 12 Coral Incandescent,
MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Sunny Seoul, Mammonde Oil Shine Stick in 10 Coral Star,
Clarins Rouge Eclat in 8 Coral Pink, Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in 04 Heftiest Hibiscus,
Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense in 7 Let's kiss

Missha Poptastic Jelly Tinit in Hot Coral - long lasting and comfortable tint. Hot Coral is a vibrant pink coral that is almost fluorescent when first applied, it dries down to fully wearable pink coral that leaves behind a nice even tint. 

Holika Holika Enamel Volip Tint in Flash Coral -  superbly pigmented and long lasting tint. Very glossy when applied. Color is beautiful pink coral and formula is very kind to lip imperfections as it does nor emphasize any dryness. One of my favorite tints for sure.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 12 Coral Incandescent - this is a pure luxury piece. It is a lovely formula but let's be real you are paying a hefty price tag for gorgeous packaging and YSL name. I would describe the color as bright watermelon coral. Formula is buttery and shiny and very moisturizing, This particular color is very pigmented. It lasts 3-4 hours on the lips. 

MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Sunny Seoul - a warm pink with pearl finish and touch of coral. It is a very comfortable and very wearable color. 

Mamonde Oil Shine Stick in 10 Coral Star - very glossy and moisturizing formula that is slightly sheer on the lips. Coral Star is very pretty pinkish coral. 

Clarins Rouge Eclat in 8 Coral Pink - very hydrating, lightweight satiny lipstick. Coral Pink is a vibrant pink with a splash of coral. 

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in 04 Heftiest Hibiscus - pigmented, creamy lipstick with slightly glossy finish. Heftiest Hibiscus straddles the line between orange and coral color. It is a good color for people that want to venture into orange hues but find them intimidating.

Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense in 7 Let's kiss - this is basically a Korean version of Clinique Chubby Stick in watermelon pink with a touch of coral. Easy to apply, pigmented and comfortable. 

And there you have it, my summer lip and cheek wardrobe. I have few more weeks of basking in bright coral goodness before I start yearning for darker and more subdued tones of autumn. 

TINT MY LIPS - Review of Etude House Summer 2017 Dear Darling Water Gel Tints

How cute are those? They look like little ice cream boxes. 

The cute is undeniable. 

Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tints is their Summer 2017 offering of their Dear Darling Tint line in an adorable ice cream like packaging. As I myself am not immune to cuteness I got two colors PK004, which is MLBB color and PK005 a lovely peachy coral color.

Formula is described as Water Gel Tint and that is exactly how it feels like, a watery gel. It goes on like a gel tint but sinks into lips like water tint. The packaging is cuteness personified and contains instructions in English. The initial finish is glossy but after some time it vanishes and your lips look naturally stained. The tinting power is not strong and it needs frequent reapplying if you wish to maintain the color. Tints smell vaguely fruity. Nothing intense and quite pleasant and if you get some in your moth it is not overly gross. After initial application the tint feels very lightweight and slightly sticky. You need to apply two to three layers for color to really show up. They also make your lips tingle a little after application. After a few minutes the color on lips darkens from what it looked like during initial application. The colors I have are too light for the ombre look, it is best to apply them fully on the lips.

I don't know if darker colors have better tinting and staying power but the two colors I have were not long lasting. That being said colors themselves are beautiful, PK005 is the most natural MLBB (My lips but better) color and they leave this very natural looking stain behind which makes them perfect for school or work in an environment that frowns on intense makeup.

These swatches are not one swipe I had to build em put to show the true color. 

The slight tint left after swiping the color away with a tissue.

They go on smoothly and feel moisturizing on first application. However, its moisturizing properties vanish quite quickly. They also tend to fade a bit wonky in the middle of the lip if you talk a lot or drink. Eating will wipe them off completely like you never had anything on. 

Things I liked:

- cute 

- beautiful colors

- very natural looking, perfect for make up beginners, teenagers and no make up make up looks

Things I did not like:

- not very moisturizing in the long run

- not very pigmented, unless you are looking for a super natural looking tint, this is not for you

- not long lasting

-tendency to fade patchy after talking and drinking 

This is a product for people that like cute packaging and don't mind replying their lip product often and that love that natural look. If you want a tint with staying and staining power this is not the one for you. I am not sorry I bought them because I am enjoying the cute and they look so natural I feel comfortable giving it to my 11 year old daughter to use, as one swipe of it on lips looks basically like a colored lip balm.

REVIEW - iUNIK Rose Galactomyces Essential Toner

iUNIK is a young Korean brand connected to http://www.unique4u.net web store that offers Korean skincare products, many of which are from smaller companies that are not so easily available elsewhere (at least for international buyers). Looking at iUNIK's products it seems to me they paid attention to what people are looking for and have produced their own line based on true and tested and much loved ingredients in Korean beauty. Rose Glactomyces Essential Toner is no different, its two main ingredients  Rosa Damascena Flower Water (70%) and  Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate (10%) are  both well loved and popular ingredients among lovers of Korean skincare products. 

Toner claims to be moisturizing, re-balancing and softening to sensitive skin. As claims go these are rather sensible. I am digging the humbleness and common sense on display. 

It comes in 200 ml plastic clear bottle. Design is rather clean and functional, much like the product itself. Product is easy to dispense and control without any leaking of the product. Ingredients list is provided on the label in English and Korean as well as instructions for use and claims. 

Toner is clear in color and runny like water. It has a slight, rather pleasant rose scent. 
Instructions state to use it after cleansing with a cotton pad or fingers. Pretty much like any other toner. I like to apply hydrating toners with hands because it just seems a waste to drench cotton pad with one. 

Clear and runny like water

It sinks into skin easily and quickly leaving behind moisturized skin that is not sticky or tacky but is smelling faintly of roses. As other hydrating toners it helps products that follow absorb better. If you like you can use it for that 7 layers of toner skin care routine.  

Ingredients:
Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate,Butylene Glycol ,Water, Glycerin, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Allantoin, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Fruit Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Nut Extract, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin,Rose Flower Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract

The star ingredients are of course:
Rosa Damascena Flower Water  - produced by steam distillation of Bulgarian rose petals. It has a long tradition of use in Europe for its antibacterial and skin balancing properties. Scent of Bulgarian rose is known to be relaxing. 

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate - well loved k-beauty ingredient that was made popular by a Japanese brand SK-II product SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Galactomyces ferment filtrate is said to help with skin issues such as acne, pore size, oil/sebum control, uneven tone, improvement of skin texture, signs of aging as well as dry skin. 

Oriental Beauty fruits (iUNIK name for extracts of fig, pomegranate, morus alba or mulberry and ginko biloba nut) - they contain vitamins, amino acids and help protect skin from sun damage by absorbing UV-A and UV-B rays. They are also antioxidants. 

CosDNA analysis of the product comes out really clean 

Conclusion: This is a very pleasant basic hydrating toner that works well in hydrating and softening the skin and helping subsequent products absorb better. It did not irritate my skin or cause any breakouts. Its rose scent is pleasant without being overwhelming. I would recommend this to anyone that likes using rosewater as toner or loves a rose scent. Looking at formula it seems suitable for all skin types. 

Available for purchase :
ebay blueprint 21 store 
unique4u.net store 

Note: Product was provided to me in exchange for the review. 

Swatches - NARS blushes

I don't have  a good reason for a post like this but a friend of mine is going blush shopping so I promised to swatch NARS blushes I have so she can see how they look and I decided to put swatches here because some of you might find it useful too.

I like NARS a lot. I like NARS blushes especially. They are long lasting and pigmented, blend well and look beautiful on. My taste in blush is weird  as I go from super neutral, everyday wearable colors that compliment my complexion to out there crazy colors because I like the look of them. My NARS collection of blushes reflects that. Only thing I don't like is packaging. It looks sleek and nice but it attracts all kinds of dirt and gunk like magnet. It is just not practical.

So here it goes my NARS blushes with swatches.

Top row: Deep Throat, Orgasm, Luster, Sin, Douceur
Second row: Coeur Battant (limited edition), Exhibit A, Boys don't Cry (limited edition)

From left to right: Deep Throat, Orgasm, Luster, Douceur, Sin, Boys don't Cry, Exhibit A (much redder in real life) and Coeur Battant

Deep Throat (some of the names are... I don't know if François Nars was making a wish list or a list of things he likes when naming some of those but.. yeah) is described as soft pink with golden sheen. I would describe it as soft peach. It is much less shimmery and less pink than Orgasm and ultimately more wearable. This is one of the universally most flattering blushes on so many skin tones. I guess everyone likes a Deep Throat ( I should stop, really). 

Orgasm is the iconic NARS blush shade, described as peachy pink with golden shimmer, and shimmer it does. For me, it is more pink than peachy.  Seems people either love this one or want to love this one but it does not look good on them (try Deep Throat in that case). I love it. 

Luster is described as sheer golden apricot. It has lovely golden sheen but no shimmer. I am of a firm belief that every pale girl should own this blush. It is such a flattering, wearable shade  for pale skin. It livens up the complexion beautifully. It is one of those weird blushes like Douceur that looks like nothing in the pan but once applied it is beautiful. 

Douceur is described as soft pink brown. A matte shade that is perfect neutral blush to pair with a strong lip. Pale girls could even contour with it. 

Sin is all that is gorgeous. My favorite autumn and winter time blush. It is described as cool berry with a golden sheen. Pale girls can wear it using a light hand and it looks beyond gorgeous on medium and deep skin tones. 

Boys don't Cry and Coeur Battant are both limited edition blushes but I've included them here to show the consistency of NARS's matte blush formula. These are smooth, very, very pigmented with great color payoff. If you are pale like me you can still wear them  but you must use supper light hand when applying or you will end up looking like a clown. Boys don't Cry is a grapefruit pink and Coeur Battant is a cool fuchsia. 

Exhibit A -is another matte blush but this is a permanent one. It is imaginatively descried as matte red blush, and that is what it is - a pure red blush. Looks scary as hell in the pan but can look beautiful on cheeks. Gives you that Snowhite look if you are pale like me, but for the love of God use a light hand a preferably a dual fiber blush brush. Pigmentation on this one is no joke. It looks marvelous on medium to deep skin tones. 

This is just a small fraction of colors NARS has on offer, literally any skin tone can find a flattering blush in their range.  NARS blushes in my opinion are gorgeous and although really costly I am not sorry that I bought them. 

Review - I'm from Ginseng Mask

First few times I tried this mask I was completely unimpressed. I was about to write it off when I finally read the instructions on the box. I was using it wrong!!!! It is not a standard wash off mask but a massage mask. So I decided to try it while actually following the instructions on the box and WOW!! The difference was evident. So I am starting this review with a cautionary tale. Don't be dumb like me and read the instructions. 

Usage directions I did not read because I am above it (dumb).

Mask comes in a brown cardboard box with ingredients list and instructions (READ THEM!) in both Korean and English. The mask itself comes in a glass jar with a seal. 

Much like the serum from the same line this mask contains a bunch of hanbang ingredients, most notable being Red Ginseng Extract (3.97%) and Panax Ginseng Seed Oil as well as one of my favorite herbal extracts Licorice Root Extract. It also contains various moisturizing agents and Ishohexadecane that softens and smooths skin without leaving a greasy residue(source: Beautiful with Brains blog). 

Mask has the honey in summer consistency (liquidy) and it is amber in color like the serum. It applies easily with a silicone mask brush and goes on the face clear. It has a very strong floral scent, much like the serum, a scent which I personally don't like but it is not a deal breaker for me. I would prefer if it smelled like dirt in true ginseng fashion. I'm a bit weird, I know. Mask begins to warm up once you start to massage it. When I say warm up, I mean warm up, nothing unpleasant or burning like but definitely noticeable. The heat from the mask helps open up the pores and thus better remove dirt and sebum from it.  After massaging it you leave the mask on for some 10-15 min and the final result is very satisfying. My skin was soft and even, pores looked smaller and it felt well moisturized.

This mask was very quick and easy to use (once I properly read the instructions) and immediate results were really nice. I am really liking this mask. 

Little tip: I prefer removing my masks with a flannel face towel soaked in warm water. It removes it easily and completely, Just don't scrub your face with it like crazy. 

Review - The Ordinary Colors Coverage Foundation

The Ordinary is a skincare brand under the Abnormal Beauty Company umbrella. It provides functional no nonsense effective skin care for more than reasonable prices. So when they announced they will come out with base products, a Serum Foundation and a Coverage Foundation, I was super excited and ordered them immediately. However due to enormous demand I had to wait more than a month to get my products (still waiting on Serum Foundation) but let me tell you it was worth the wait.

Claims:
Coverage Foundations are full-coverage formulations available in a comprehensive shade range across 21 shades. These foundations contain higher pigment levels than our Serum Foundations but still offer a smooth finish that avoids the heavy makeup look that can make skin appear more aged. The texture is that of a lightweight, non-oily cream. 

The pigments used in these formulations are treated for a rich, highly-saturated effect. These pigments are suspended in our proprietary spreadability system that allows pigments to look natural on the skin, resist collecting within fine lines and stay on for longer. The foundations offer a semi-matte finish and are compatible with most primers and are designed to work exceptionally well with the primers offering from The Ordinary. 


Each foundation format is available in 21 shades. The shades are divided into three categories: 1 for fair to lighter tones, 2 for medium tones; and 3 for darker tones. Each category is then classified further by a second digit from 0 to 3 to indicate depth within each category. Finally, a letter is added to the shade code to identify the undertone: P (Pink) and R (Red) indicate cool undertones for lighter and darker shades respectively; N indicates a Neutral tone; Y indicates a Yellow undertone. 

I have two colors in the lightest range 1.1 N and 1.2N (my summer color). Currently I am wearing them mixed to get my perfect shade.  As with all the Ordinary products package design is very minimalist and clean, in fact making the product look far more expensive than it is. Outer packaging is thin cardboard with instructions for use and ingredients list.  

Foundation itself comes in 30 ml plastic bottle with a pump that has a lock system. Packaging is compact and travel friendly and pump is excellent as it allows for a perfect control in dispensing the product. Foundation colors are true to description provided on site. 

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation in 1.1N and in 1.2N (sorry for the ugliest swatches ever).

Application wise it goes on smooth and you can use a brush or a beauty blender to apply it but I found that I get the best results using my fingers. It does not oxidize but it is one of those foundations that looks better the longer it stays on the skin. After some 15-20 min after application it completely melds with the skin for flawless but natural appearance. It feels weightless on the face as well, like there is nothing there. Coverage is good medium but buildable without going cakey and it has velvety/semi-matte finish. It last on the face the entire day with minimal wear in the usual places, like chin and around the mouth. It does not collect in wrinkles and fine lines or around the nose, it does not emphasize pores. I found that I got the smoothest application and the best look and wear when using a silicone based primer underneath. All in all a 7 EUR foundation that behaves like an excellent 40 EUR foundation. Color me impressed.

You can try and order the foundation on DECIEM site (they have a backlog of orders) for 6.90 EUR. In my experience with The Ordinary and how popular and in demand their products are what works is just order the product or ask for e-mail notification to be sent when the product is in stock and than wait and wait. Trust me they are worth the wait. I am looking forward to my Serum Foundation arriving...eventually. 

Note: text in italics is taken from the DECIEM site 

Budget Wednesday - Skinfood makeup mini reviews

Skinfood is an affordable roadshop brand in Korea whose philosophy goes along the " You are what you eat" line. Their products are all mostly food based and they have some well known and well loved kbeauty products  like their famous wash-off masks in Black Sugar and my favorite Rice Mask. Somehow I always thought of Skinfood as a skincare brand although they have a very extensive make up offering, so for "educational" purposes only I decided to try some make up from their relatively new Vita Color and Fresh Fruit lines.

An absolute hit of the things I tried was the Fresh Fruit Juice Extraction Blush No.1 Fig and Plum

This color does not look like much when swatched but it gives the most beautiful wash of watercolor like neutral blush on your cheeks. Blends easily, does not have a sticky finish and last some 5 to 6 hours on its own. This particular shade is very light and subdued and although buildable I would recommend it only for pale folks, however the line consists of three additional colors that are brighter and more intense than this one so there is something for everyone. I love the formula and finish of this blush. It has a slight floral scent, but nothing overpowering. Blush costs around 10$.  5/5

I also tried some lip products to varying degrees of success. Those are Fresh Fruit Juice Extraction Tint in No. 5 Berry Fine Day, Vita Color Fruits Roll Stick in No.2 and Vita Color Delicious Oil Rouge in No.2 Apricot.

Fresh Fruit Juice Extraction Tint in No. 5 (3.5g) - It comes in the tiny container, so it is convenient to carry. It goes on smooth and shiny, feeling comfortable on the lips. Color gets darker as it dries. It leaves a stain that can go patchy. Longevity is decent unless you drink or eat than it is gone. it is easy to reapply. 3/5

Vita Color Fruits Roll Stick in No.2 (3.7g) - It has a darker color center in order to achieve gradation look. However the contrast is not very evident and ends up looking like one color. Formula is nice and creamy and goes matte if it is blotted or after some time. Longevity is nice for a creamy product, some 6 hours unless you eat, it also leaves a very light stain. I liked it the best out of three lip products I tried. 4/5

Vita Color Delicious Oil Rouge in No.2 Apricot (3.2g) - I liked this one the least. Not that anything is especially wrong with it but there are many products of this type on the market that have a better, more comfortable formula. This one is supposed to give that wet, shiny lip look and it does to an extent. However formula is a bit thick and goes on thick on the lips so it can feel and look a bit cakey, which is weird for such a product. Pigmentation is nice for a lighter product, longevity is typical as well a few hours unless you drink and eat and than it is gone in a second. 2.5/5 

All three lip products cost between 7-10 USD depending where you purchase them.

Colors are quite nice: Fresh Fruit Juice Extraction Tint, Vita Color Delicious Oil Rouge and Vita Color Fruits Roll Stick. Second image is stain they leave after being wiped. 

To conclude this look at Skinfood makeup  I say go for the blush it is awesome as lips products go, if you really like the color go for it otherwise there are nicer budget options out there in my opinion.